Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		45,379,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 286,182	$ 45	$ 310,503	$ (27,278)	$ 2,912
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	110,692	0	0	110,692	0
Foreign currency translation	(6,271)	0	0	0	(6,271)
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	(303)	$ 0	0	0	(303)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(2,421,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(136,466)	$ (2)	0	(136,464)	0
Share-based compensation	9,065	$ 0	9,065		0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		553,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	19,053	$ 1	19,052	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	(37,600)	$ 0	0	(37,600)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		43,511,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	244,352	$ 44	338,620	(90,650)	(3,662)
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	128,275	0	0	128,275	0
Foreign currency translation	(9,046)	0	0	0	(9,046)
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	(1,021)	$ 0	0	0	(1,021)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(1,448,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(99,219)	$ (2)	0	(99,217)	0
Share-based compensation	9,543	$ 0	9,543	0	0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		648,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	25,976	$ 1	25,975	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	$ (43,117)	$ 0	0	(43,117)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	42,711,016	42,711,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 255,743	$ 43	374,138	(104,709)	(13,729)
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	148,955	0	0	148,955	0
Foreign currency translation	(1,661)	0	0	0	(1,661)
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	1,312	$ 0	0	0	1,312
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(2,064,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(178,414)	$ (2)	0	(178,412)	0
Share-based compensation	9,902	$ 0	9,902	0	0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		443,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	19,122	$ 0	19,122	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	$ (49,749)	$ 0	0	(49,749)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	41,089,720	41,090,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 205,210	$ 41	$ 403,162	$ (183,915)	$ (14,078)